Europe Jazz Network
MUSICIANS

CHICK COREA

Official website: www.chickcorea.com

Anthony Armando (Chick) Corea was born in Chelsea, Massachussetts on June 12, 1941. He began playing piano at age four and his musical development was strongly influenced by his father, Armando, a bandleader in the '30s and '40s. Chick grew up listening to the music of Beethoven, Chopin, Bach and Mozart along with the recordings of Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Lester Young and Horace Silver, who became an especially strong influence on the aspiring pianist. His earliest employers - Willie Bobo, Cal Tjader, Herbie Mann and Mongo Santamaria - instilled in Chick a love for Latin American music. Even today his playing bears the percussive attack and double time feel that defines Latin music. After working with the likes of Stan Getz, Blue Mitchell, Sarah Vaughan and Gary Burton, he joined Miles Davis' band in 1968 and played electric piano on the landmark In a silent way album and the influential "Bitches Brew" session. His own trio recording with Miroslav Vitous and Roy Haynes, Now He sings, Now He sobs, became a staple in the record collections of modern jazz lovers during the late '60s. His avant-garde group Circle, which ran from 1969 to 1971, was an important force in free form improvisation, reflecting the influence of jazz musicians like Paul Bley and Ornette Coleman while also drawing from 20th Century composers like John Cage and Karlheine Stockhausen. When Circle disbanded in 1972, Corea formed Return to Forever with Stanley Clarke, Airto Moreira, singer Flora Purim and reedman Joe Farrell. After two albums of light, breezy Latin-tinged music, (including two of Corea's most popular tunes, "Spain" and "La Fiesta", the band took a turn toward the electronic side of things by incorporating electric guitarist Bill Connors and power drummer Lenny White. Guitarist Al DiMeola replaced Connors in 1974 and the band went on to spearhead the fusion movement before disbanding in 1976. In 1977-78 Corea toured with a 13-piece band (including horns and strings), while Clarke, White and DiMeola went on to lead groups onf their own. Since the late '70s, he has toured and recorded in a number of contexts, ranging from fusion quintets to straight-ahead jazz quartets and trios to classical duets. He formed the Elektric Band in 1985, debuting with Chick Corea Elektric Band on GRP Records. That effort was followed by Light Years (1987), Eye of the beholder (1988) and now the Chick Corea Akoustic Band. Photo: Glen Wexler Studio